CAV Restaurant - Providence, Rhode Island

ViNa

We recently dined at CAV in Providence, drawn by its strong ratings and positive reviews. Let's start with the location—tucked away in a rather secluded, dimly lit area, which felt a bit eerie for a Saturday evening. Without the small sign, you'd hardly know it was a restaurant.

Once inside, the atmosphere was bustling, and thanks to our reservation, we were seated quickly. However, the entrance was cramped, and there was a noticeable musty smell, which set an uncomfortable tone early on. It took about 10 minutes for water to arrive, and another five minutes for our server to approach. During the wait, I took in the restaurant’s décor. The antique aesthetic was charming, the space well-lit and quite roomy, but the energy was noticeably lacking. Servers seemed rushed and didn't convey the kind of warmth or enthusiasm you'd expect from a busy spot.

When our server arrived after a good amount of wait, he mentioned the specials but offered little in the way of guidance or suggestions on the menu. We started with a Silver and Gold Margarita and planned to order the Goat Cheese Croquettes, but were told they were unavailable. We settled for the Mushroom Crostini, which was decent but nothing special.

For the main courses, we ordered the Pasta Florentine, Poulet au Poires, and Mushroom Risotto, along with Truffle Fries on the side. The Pasta Florentine was a delight—well-balanced, flavorful, and perfectly executed. The Mushroom Risotto was another standout. The aroma was heavenly, and the mushrooms were cooked to perfection—earthy, flavorful, and tender.

Unfortunately, the Poulet au Poires was a letdown. While the chive dumplings were tasty, the chicken itself was bland and rubbery, which made it difficult to enjoy. It was an interesting concept—chicken with red pears poached in wine with a ginger pear sauce—but it didn't come together. A side dish could have added balance and salvaged the experience, but as it was, we couldn't recommend it.

For dessert, we initially ordered the Tiramisu, but like the croquettes, it was unavailable. Being told twice that popular items were off the menu left us wondering whether this was a one-time issue, a recurring problem or a wrong day and time to be there.

The food we were able to enjoy was largely delicious, with the Pasta Florentine and Mushroom Risotto standing out. Portion sizes were reasonable—not too large, but satisfying. However, the service was lackluster. At one point, the cleaning staff began clearing our plates without asking if we were finished, which made us feel rushed. After politely asking them to stop, they backed off, but the overall experience felt inattentive.

In summary, CAV has culinary talent however, the inconsistent service, unavailable menu items, and limited menu prevented this from being the stellar dining experience we had hoped for.

Michael A “Mike”

We came here for lunch, and got an outside table.
Service was friendly and accommodating.
We had the lobster bisque, chicken with poached pears and mussels .
Excellent food and execution.
Thank you!

Kyle Coulter

I tried scouting out my choices before arriving l, and uh, not possible. Too many mouth watering options.

Each section of the menu, (Drinks, Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts) had a variety of HIGH quality options to choose from that were so enticing that the only way I could choose was by eliminating options one by one until there was only one left. It was like the culinary version of the Bachelor: "There's only two dishes remaining, but there's only one fork here tonight." AND STILL I had to utilize the server in my tiebreaker.

Which leads me to the service. From the host, to the table busser, to our server, to the guy refilling water glasses were extremely warm and courteous and just ON POINT. The Server not only knew the menu forward and backwards, but could speak to every dish as if passing on history through oral tradition. Consummate professionals.

And atmosphere...this place is COOL they do some rad things with antiques. Check it out.

Kaitlin Robertson

Went for my birthday. All of the food was delicious, the atmosphere is very nice. They have really interesting decor and chandeliers. The staff were very accommodating. It was cold with the AC blowing near our table so we asked to be sat somewhere else since we didn't have sweaters. The server was kind enough to turn down the AC for us. The dessert I got ... TO DIE FOR. The richest chocolate I've ever had in my life. I'm obsessed!

Tammy Lynn

Went for an early Tuesday lunch. Great food & service. Had the calamari, it was done to perfection. The Kendall Jackson Chardonnay complimented my meal perfectly.

Scott Davis

I just had my baby shower there today, and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had! The quality of the food, the ambiance, and the attentiveness were all outstanding.

Most importantly, I want to highlight the service. Despite a busy Sunday brunch in half the restaurant, with a divider up, you wouldn't have known. The food for 50 people came out fast, hot, fresh, and all at the same time! Whoever runs that kitchen, please extend my gratitude to them and their team.

Our server (I regret I don't know the name as my sister and brother handled the finer details) was exceptional. Having worked in the industry for over 15 years, I must admit I’ve never seen service of this quality, not even from myself. He handled over a dozen special requests simultaneously without mistakes, pauses, or anxiety. He was the calmest and coolest host, managing unexpected requests as if they were part of the plan.

I truly want to thank the kitchen and front-of-house staff at CAV for creating a lasting memory for me and my family. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Lauren D'Andrea

Went there yesterday for my sisters baby shower! There was pretty much only one server and I think another joined him later! But the one was incredible! The baby shower setup was great the artwork on the walls was impressive the food was delicious
The only thing was rhe food arrived a lil cold

Hak

Had a great time the service was great the food and drinks were great with the exception of one major thing I took away the wild mushroom risotto and found a piece of random glass in it. Now I called back immediately when I found it to speak to management who just let me know nothing could be done because it left the building. But that doesn't make since liability does not end after leaving the building. I do believe it was an isolated incident because my friends have eaten there multiple times without issue. But it is absolutely scary to have glass in your food and potentially maybe ingested some. I would love to return there because the menu and staff were fantastic but this has left a bad feeling in my mouth that could've potentially been a bloody one.